Newport National

Designed by Arthur Hills and his then associate Drew Rogers, the Orchard Course at Newport National Golf Club occupies a 200-acre site that was once a flourishing tree and shrub nursery. Fringed by tall swathes of fescue, the bent grass fairways on this exciting layout have been open to New England golfers since 2002.

Drew Rogers, when asked to comment on the Orchard course, responded with the following:

“The planning process seemed to take on a life of its own, taking years to complete, with plans being churned out by the dozens as the land assemblage evolved. Ultimately Arthur and I worked together in arranging a diverse collection of holes that would embody the site, incorporating the various plots of landscape materials and the stunning views of the Sakonnet Passage, Atlantic Ocean and Narragansett Bay.

Though not the planned goal, the course would evolve to take on almost a links-like appearance. Holes 3 and 4 are unique in that they are consecutive par threes, playing in opposite directions, with number 3 set against a massive grouping of old, Japanese pieris – an ornamental shrub that, when flowering in the spring, takes on the look of blooming gorse from the British Isles.”